Gang member pleads guilty to shooting of 3 in Glen Ellyn

October 21, 2010

A DuPage County gang member faces up to 60 years in prison for his role in the shooting of three people following a break-in at a home in unincorporated Glen Ellyn last year.

James Kral, 21, of the 22W 400 block of Cherry Lane in unincorporated Glen Ellyn, pleaded guilty today to two counts of attempted first-degree murder and home invasion for the Oct. 23, 2009 incident at a home in the 800 block of Busch Road.

Assistant State's Attorneys Joseph Lindt and Steve Knight told Judge George Bakalis that as part of the plea agreement, they will seek no more than a 60 years sentence at a hearing later this year, although the defendant is eligible for a sentence up to 90 years.

"God bless you," Kral said to Bakalis during the hearing.

Lindt said that Kral, wearing a bandana over his face, and two others, both wearing Halloween skeleton masks, broke into the home, demanding drugs and cash. Kral and the others wrapped two people in the home with duct tape. When a third person in the home displayed a gun, Kral fired a gun and struck all three. Two of the victims required lengthy hospitalizations and recovery. The third was treated at a hospital with minor injuries and released.

The DuPage County sheriff's police investigation led to the arrest of Alejandro Roman, 18, of the 2500 block of Spaulding Avenue in Chicago, who was charged with similar crimes.

Knight said that Roman led police to Kral, whose arrests was supported by his palm prints that had been left on the duct tape.

Kral formerly claimed that he only drove the car that brought the attackers to the home, but didn't enter the home.